[EVENT] Adjustments to the Iranian Armed Forces and the Iranian Internal Security Forces

With the population of the Islamic Republic of Iran increasing to well over 100,000,000 citizens, coupled with increased external security threats, and a need to replace the losses faced by the Iranian Armed Forces, the Iranian Internal Security Forces, and the Iranian Police Forces, in terrorist attacks and subsequent anti-terror offensives, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyyed Hassan Khomeini, ordered the expansion of the Iranian Army, the IRGC, the NAJA, and the full-time staff of the Basij Forces. While this was certainly a response to the external and internal security challenges faced by the Islamic Republic of Iran and its friends and allies, it was also a response to the explosive growth of Iran’s population, and a need for the Islamic Republic of Iran to provide well paid, state jobs for Iran’s growing populations of young men.

The largest growth was among the ranks of the NAJA, who’d see their numbers rise from 500,000 active and reserve members, to 750,000 active and reserve members, with the ratio between active and reserve members being 400,000 and 350,000 respectively. Within the NAJA, the Iranian Border Guard Command of the NAJAshall see the largest increase in manpower, with their numbers rising to 60,000 active and 40,000 reserve border guards. Additionally, a 1,600 Soldier “Special Forces Regiment” will be formed within the Iranian Border Guard Command of the NAJA, due to the many challenges Iranian Border Guards now face, along the border with Kurdistan and Pakistan. This regiment will be formed with veterans of the Iranian Border Guard Command and trained for over a year in special forces tactics. While for basic NAJA Officers, training shall be 4 months for active duty NAJA Officers and 2 months for reserve NAJA Officers.

Coming in second in terms of growth is the Iranian Army Ground Forces, also known as the NEZAJA. The Iranian Army Ground Forces shall increase by 180,000 active and reserve soldiers, with 80,000 soldiers being active duty and 100,000 reservists. Learning from the lessons of Iran’s “Special period”, the 80,000 active duty soldiers that are to be raised will undergo 6 months of training and will either replace losses in existing Iranian Army Ground Forces, units, or shall form Light Infantry Divisions. While 80,000 veteran soldiers shall receive 4 months of additional training to form 3 new 5,000 soldier Takavar Brigades (5th Takavar Brigade, 15th Takavar Brigade, and 56th Takavar Brigade, 1 new 5,000 soldierAirborne Brigades (75th Airborne Brigade, and 3 new 20,000 soldier Mountain Divisions (80th Mountain Division, 81st Mountain Division, 82nd Mountain Division). These new units, formed by veterans, shall use the lessons learned by the Iranian Army Ground Forces against the Kurdish Militants and Iranian BLA, which stress the need for highly mobile, well trained units, adept a warfare in rugged terrain. While the 100,000 reservists shall form 5 new 20,000 reservist divisions, with two new reserve division being infantry divisions (26th Infantry Division and 27th Infantry Division), another being a new reserve armored division (94th Armored Division), and two new reserve divisions being logistics divisions (38th Logistics Division and 39th Logistics Division). All reservists shall undergo 4 months of training, before their new units are formed.

While the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, also known as the IRGC, shall be increased by 40,000 Guardsmen, with all 40,000 being active duty IRGC Guardsmen. All 40,000 IRGC Guardsmen shall undergo 6 months of training and will replace 40,000 veteran IRGC Guardsmen, who shall be formed into two new elite divisions within the IRGC. The first division, shall be a 25,000 Guardsman elite mechanized division, known as the “4th IRGC Mechanized Division", which shall specialize in mechanized urban combat, using specialized equipment. The second division, shall be an 15,000 Guardsman air mobile division, known as the “1st IRGC Air Calvary Division”, which will specialize in light infantry warfare and rapid deployments to problem areas.

While the Basij Forces shall see their ranks increased by 30,000 full-time staff members. 20,000 full-time staff members shall carryout traditional Basij duties, active as an law enforcement auxiliaries and militiamen. These Basij Forces staff members shall receive 2 months training and shall be dispersed throughout the Basij Forces regional networks. While 10,000 Basij Force staffers shall form an elite volunteer martyrdom project, which shall be comprised similarly to a light infantry unit, whose tasks shall include counter-insurgency, insurgency, rapid deployment, and light infantry warfare. These 10,000 volunteers shall receive six months of training, which will include typical military training, along with religious indoctrination, which places an emphasis on martyrdom for Iran.

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyyed Hassan Khomeini, has stated that these force level increases will not only improve Iran’s defenses and better adapt Iran’s armed forces and security forces to Iran’s new strategic realities, force level increases “Will provide Iran’s youths with increased employment opportunities, that will allow them to contribute and sacrifice, in the patriotic service of their nation. For which, they shall earn an honest and respected living, which shall form boys into men.”. So it’s become clear that while Iran is seeking to rapidly expand private sector jobs, the Iranian state also views the public sector as a key sector for the employment and formation of Iran’s burgeoning population of youths.